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Ed's Kort Haus
Categories: Nightlife Bars Dive Bars Restaurants Burgers Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Dive Bars, Burgers, Canadian (Traditional) [Edit]
6732 Greenwood Ave NSeattle, WA 98103
Neighbourhood: Phinney Ridge
(206) 782-3575
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 2 pm - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
74 reviews for Ed's Kort Haus
Review Highlights
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"Who doesn't love exotic meat." In 11 reviews -
"There are plenty of beers on tap." In 8 reviews -
"The second was the wild boar which I can definitely..." In 5 reviews
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74 reviews in English
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Review from Cathy H.
Seattle, WA
2/25/2012
Ok. First off..its a dive...we had to wait outside until Ed got there to open up. Thank goodness I called! Sundays and Mondays are free pool days, Tuesday is buy a burger, get one half off. We ordered a couple of specialty burgers, camel and kangaroo. Camel was nothing to write to mom about...but the kangaroo that I will definitely reorder...flavorful and a bit zippy with seasonings. Good selection of microbrews. Nice customers too. If you are looking for local flavor, go there.
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Review from Kelly B.
1/15/2012
My husband has been in bed all day with stomach cramps and nausea and last night was bent over a toilet, hence the two stars. He said the burger tasted funny so that's the only thing we could link his illness it back to. My friend's bison sliders were charred hockey pucks. My brat was super pink on the inside and tasted weird.
The basket of tots were great though, and the vibe was cool. Go here for a beer but skip the food. Oh and if you sit at a table you've got to go to the bar and order, FYI. That always throws me. It wasn't that busy, table service would have been nice. -
Review from D'Arcy W.
1/11/2012
Never will I come back.
It all started when I sat down with two other friends. I ordered chicken tacos, because I'm not a beef eater. I didn't mind the dive atmosphere. I also thought the exotic meats list was pretty cool.
One of my mates ordered a regular burger and the other got a chicken sandwich I think it was.
Now it's starting to go downhill...
We're drinking beers and I get one of my four tacos down. NOMNOM! Not bad. There's crazy amounts of shredded cheese and I thought it was odd and simply wrote it off.
Here it comes: Ants. All over the ketchup and in the ketchup. I think my friend ate five or six ants at the least. Now I have ants crawling towards me and my tacos on the bar. Oh no you don't you little six legged bastards. I lift up my plate while the ketchup gets thrown in the garbage and the bar gets wiped off.
My friend looks green and she gets her meal for free. I'm kinda finding some humor in this. I take a big bite into my second taco and...WTF it's ground beef! I dust off the last two of my tacos and alas...more ground beef! That cheese was camouflage, it hid the ants and meat very well in this dingy stink hole of a dive.
They messed my order up, had ants crawling all over and I was told I'd only get charged for one of my tacos. I kinda stared blankly.
The crescendo of this experience: I was charged for all four of my tacos when I checked my bank statement at the end of the month.
F- this place. I really wanted to like it there and come back to try some strange meats with more friends. -
Review from Galaxie S.
Seattle, WA
11/26/2011
Obviously this place is a dive bar and if people have a problem with dive bars they should not go to them period. I'm not one of those people and I enjoy going to a good dive bar from time to time. Now that I got that out of the way, I'm ready to share my experience.
I went there with my boyfriend for beers and burgers a few months ago. I ordered a cheeseburger with fries with a Jolly Roger and boyfriend got the elk/bear burger with tatter tots and a whiskey coke.
Ed and the waitress kept giving us samples of other beers they have on tap (they do have a pretty good selection) and I ended up getting a Blue Moon afterwords. I know, very original of me...
When the food arrived, my cheeseburger was pretty terrible. It tasted like it was a frozen patty from Costco that was thrown straight from the freezer to the grill. The fries were nice and crispy though. The elk/bear burger with grilled onions was great to my surprise. I'm not the one to usually order exotic meats...
When our bill arrived, it was close to $50. We took a close look at the bill and we got charged for 2 extra beers we never ordered and there was a $5.50 under "Miscellaneous" whatever that was.
We asked the waitress what the deal was with the extra 2 beers and the mystery charge. She said she did not know and called Ed.
He removed the 2 beers from the check and told us that "Miscellaneous" was the Jolly Roger. OK, so $5.50 for a pint of regular beer...
Our bill was now close to $40. We paid and did not leave a tip. We left completely shocked by the fact that:
1) Ed just assumed we were not going to notice the outrageous extra charges.
2) No apology was made what so ever. And finally,
3) That someone can just be so bluntly dishonest!
After that ordeal I really wonder about the "authenticity" of the meats used for burgers at this joint.
I hate the idea of stepping into a business and having the feeling that I'm being robbed right before my eyes and feeling uncomfortable just for asking for a correct bill! -
Review from Marie B.
Seattle, WA
2/1/2012
I used to love this place... actually came here on Christmas with my family this year (we were always very traditional and this last year and think my parents were trying to be hip now that all their kids have moved out ha!) and we had a blast. The owner's son was our server and he was so nice! Well I've been back about 5 times, mainly to play pool and darts... and the owner, Ed I'm guessing, poured me the absolute worst Long Island Ice Tea... weak and full or sour. Well he was very uptight all night so I didn't want to bug him, but it was so disgusting. I let him know I didn't really like it and asked if he could maybe remake it or something else... and he said "Sure, but you're still paying for that" I've NEVER had this experience with food.... I used to be a server and I also know that's not legal... but I just stood there dumbfounded and said "but I don't like it... I can't drink it" and he let me know that wasn't his problem and I legally have to pay for it. Well Ed... I won't be back, and the party of 14 we had in at Christmas all has heard this story... and every other friend of mine that lives in that area as well.... so the 20cents of liquor you couldn't write off that night I'm sure has cost you a lot more in business.
Also- you have to pay to keep any music playing from the jukebox (no house sound) and the food is greasy bar food... nothing special at all! -
Review from Jen P.
Seattle, WA
1/16/2011
Booster Shots....check.
Gallon of Purell....check.
Stomach of Steel....check.
You're ready for this place.
A true dive but with a surprisingly sophisticated beer selection.
Yes, the restrooms are pretty foul, but you've already been warned, right? Your drink garnish may have come off the floor, but the booze will kill whatever was on it.
The nuts are hot, the darts are real, the meats are exotic, and the service is quick and friendly. We had a fantastic laid-back night and I'd be tempted to come back...after I finish my Hep-B series. -
Review from Corinne W.
Seattle, WA
1/28/2011
For a memborable date, come here after a trip to the nearby Woodland Park zoo and eat the animals you were viewing.
Remember, the burgers are exotic but they're not gourmet. Adjust expectations accordingly.Listed in: Impress your friends, Drunk in Public
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Review from M S.
Lynnwood, WA
3/8/2011
I went here to eat for the first time 2 weeks ago to finally try a "Wild Game" burger. Boy am I glad that I did.
First of all J.J. was very friendly & helpful helping me choose a burger. In fact he recommended a elk/bear burger not on the menu.
But first let's talk about the environment. It's an ABSOLUTE neighborhood dive bar & revels in this fact. I love it! Despite that they seem to have a good selection of liquor. They also have an excellent selection of beer on tap. From PBR to microbrews to meet an array of tastes.
The burger itself was excellent. Juicy, tasty & flavorful. It went well with the blue moon beer I also ordered. A lot better than a "Red Mill" burger which is right down the street whose burgers (in my opinion) aren't any better than a Red Robin burger. But that's just me.
The fries that came with the burger were light & crispy & seemed to pick up some of the flavor from the juices of the burger which was fine by me. I encourage anyone who likes a good burger to try one out here! -
Review from Heather R.
Lynnwood, WA
6/22/2011
My mom dragged my husband and I here because she was curious about the different meats available for the burgers. As a vegetarian, I was an odd choice to bring to such a place, but I was actually really happily surprised that they actually offered a variety of veggie burgers as well.
We started with the battered mushroom appetizer. Typical bar food, but a LOT of it! Came with a whole basket of fries. My mom ordered the alligator burger. She said it tasted just like chicken, but was a little dry. My husband had a regular old cheeseburger and said it was mediocre. My veggie burger was actually really good - I was impressed! My husband and I also upgraded our meals to include tater tots - a must for us if ever offered. :)
My mom got a bloody mary and said it was delicious. No one else had drinks.
The decor is.... eclectic to say the least. There are some nice TVs to watch sports. A couple video games and a pool table if you get bored. The tables and chairs were pretty dirty and broken down (my husband had to switch out his chair to a less-broken one) and the menus especially hadn't seen a cleaning rag in months, maybe years. Overall, it was just a little too dirty for my taste, hence the three-star review. However, if you are in to that type of dirty dive bar setting, you'll probably love it. I wouldn't even venture into the bathrooms, though. Too scared. -
Review from Casey A.
Seattle, WA
11/16/2011
I can't explain to you why this place is cool. But it is. You'll either realize that the second you walk in, or you'll realize the place is not your style. They have a great beer selection and steel-tipped darts. They have tater tots. They have python, which basically tastes like overcooked chicken. The dude who is always bartending (Ed, I presume?), is really cool, in a semi-friendly, semi-I-don't-give-a-shit kind of way that I really appreciate. There are few things better than a few pints and a few rounds of darts at Ed's Kort Haus with the fellas. Definitely not the kind of place to bring your new girlfriend on a first date. Unless she likes hunting video games, in which case, by all means, have at it.
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Review from Peter M.
Seattle, WA
10/10/2011
This is a great dive bar with surprisingly good food. Exotic meat burgers, very good beef burgers and who doesn't love tater tots?
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Review from Nick L.
Seattle, WA
10/9/2011
The quality of Ed's burgers isn't record-shattering or anything, probably because he has to keep such a large variety in stock, and because not all of the wild game he uses is necessarily as well-farmed as the staple meats (beef/chicken/pork/etc). It's still a dive bar, after all. But where else are you going to find a man bold enough to serve burgers made from like 20 different animals for very reasonable prices? If you're really into novel tastes and variety in your meals, you'll love this place.
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Review from Betsey S.
1/14/2008 ROTD 11/14/2008
Carnivore heaven, vegetarian heaven, Guinness heaven, Big Buck Hunter heaven, 20 beers on tap heaven, "adult" video bar top game heaven (including "Foxy Boxxi"... not nearly as risque as it sounds I'm afraid), grande juke box heaven, friendly patron heaven, friendly staff heaven etc.
The Kort Haus is a totally comfortable kind of bar. There was no adjustment period for me - I came in, sat down at the bar, sighed and was relaxed in about 30 seconds flat. The staff kept buying us shots, which I thought was just because they're super nice but it turned out a couple in our group knows them, AND they're super nice.
There's no scene at the Kort Haus. There are exotic meats though, including camel. Interesting, considering their proximity to the Zoo... but I am not one to question the source. When I ordered my Guinness, I was asked if I wanted a warm glass or cold glass. Hmm. Cold, I guess? Does anyone ever ask for warm?
Minus a half star for the lackluster tots (they don't compare in size, price, or flavor to the tots at Noc Noc) and minus another half star for the computerized darts which has seen better days. But I can deal, everything else rules.Listed in: Be Comforted: Guinness and…
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Review from Rylee O.
1/8/2009
It's the Kort ---- Haus
Mighty mighty, just lettin' it all hang out
It's the Kort --- Haus
The burgers are stacked and that's a fact,
ain't holding nothing back.
It's the Kort --- Haus
It's the one, the only one,
who's got burgers made of venison
When eating and drinking there everybody knows,
and here's how the story goes.
They know they got everything
a drinker needs in a bar, yeah.
How can they use, the meat they use
for only $10. Oh what a winning hand!
It's the Kort ---- Haus
Mighty mighty, just lettin' it all hang out
It's the Kort --- Haus
The burgers are stacked and that's a fact,
ain't holding nothing back.
The place is a dive, but in a good way,
makes an gal wish for younger days
Be careful in the bathroom it's not so clean
Sure enough to knock a man to his knee
It's the Kort ---- Haus
Mighty mighty, just lettin' it all hang out
It's the Kort --- Haus
The burgers are stacked and that's a fact,
ain't holding nothing back.
Oh shake it down, shake it down now (repeat) -
Review from Scott K.
12/23/2008
It being the Christmas season, I went with the Reindeer Burger, and was pleasantly surprised!
Rudolf... I'm a monster... I know, but it's your fault for tasting so good isn't it?
There is something just a tad unsettling about serving half the animals you just saw at the Zoo, but that's the dark price of being a meat eater, isn't it?
The owner is a swell fella, and I'm pressured by his affable nature to give him more stars, I really am... but a dive is a dive. Holes in the seats, and layers of beer signs everywhere... the surroundings aren't what I'd call inspired.
That said... the worst thing about the Kort Haus is the bathroom (shudders). It was a chamber of horrors the likes of Freddy Kruger could not devise. I'll save you from the details... but needless to say... hold it. -
Review from Kristin C.
Puyallup, WA
3/23/2009 ROTD 8/2/2009
What the heck is this place?
Stumbled in here on Saturday night and was confronted with that weird exotic animals menu, a bunch of people in plaid and trucker hats (oh please let it have been a theme party) and some dude who told me he'd put $20 worth of speed metal in the jukebox. I thought maybe I'd wandered into some weird candid camera joke.
I had wanted a bar with Buckhunter, darts and pool so that I could beat my date at bar games. Ed's Kort House delivered on all accounts, with a big side of WTF too. This ain't no classy joint, but I bet each time you go, something new and wonderful is bound to happen. For example, the wonders of the women's bathroom probably never cease. Truly one of the last great dive (diiiiiiive) bars in the city limits.
In the words of someone else: I'll be back.
For those interested, the waitress (Ed's daughter) told us that the exotic animal burgers are buy one get one half off on Tuesdays and Sundays. So, bring a posse of meat eaters and have at it. -
Review from Ron M.
6/5/2007
This tavern has certainly seen better days and Charlie D. and Sean T. basically covered its aesthetics so I won't bother with a recap of my own.
If you are tired of the same old burger and want to try something different, stop by the Kort Haus and have your choice of 'exotic meats' like black bear, ostrich, camel, alligator, llama, kangaroo, reindeer and wild boar. The burgers come with the traditional condiments with a choice of your onions raw or grilled. There are three cheeses offered: American, Swiss or Pepperjack. You also have two choices of fries, regular or spicy for a dollar more.
I was pretty hungry from working on my high-pro glow from El Chupacabra and ended up ordering two burgers during our stay here. The first one was the ostrich which I liked a lot. It was like eating a really juicy cheeseburger. The second was the wild boar which I can definitely recommend! That sucker was very tasty indeed! Sean T. and Denice M. can attest to that.
Our bartender was very nice and helpful. He also mentioned that they do have specials on their burgers on Sunday and Tuesday nights. I can't remember if it was a two for one or a certain amount off. Either way it is a good deal because their burgers are a little pricey. I think the average price of their burgers hovers around $10 - $12.
There are vegetarian offerings here too, so bring your herbivore friends. A good time will be had by all.
I will definitely visit this place again.Listed in: Cool Places
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Review from Charlie D.
Chicago, IL
6/4/2007
If you find yourself in the mood for something "different" for dinner, Kort Haus might be your place. But beware of the bar itself because A) it's freaking expensive and B) it isn't the best looking place on the planet. I remember my bill being over 40 bucks for two pitchers and one burger..ouch!!
And for as much as they charge for their burgers you would think they could afford to replace some of the furniture in their bar. Because they have one of those bench seats that's all beat up and covered in duck tape...which totally says "classy". Well I split my ostrich burger with Sean and Ian..so I ended up with some ostrich, reindeer and alligator. It's kind of hard to describe the tasted of the different meats but I liked the reindeer(Rudolph) the best.
Note to all you Jeanne's out there...use a different name when ordering your food at Kort Haus. Because earlier that evening we were at El Chupe and I stole a name tag with the name " Jeanne" on it. So when you order your food at Kort Haus they ask for your name and with me being a smart ass I gave the name of "Jeanne" and the owner/waiter replied back "that's my ex-wives name..and I don't like that name". So once again don't use that name..please.
Well honestly that was a new experience for me and it wasn't a bad one so if you're brave of heart and are looking for something out of the norm then Kort Haus might be right up your alley. -
Review from J K.
Seattle, WA
It's a dive bar in Greenwood. Typical dive bar? Yes. Aside from one thing: they have exotic meat burgers.
Wait... what? Exotic meat burgers? I didn't know that even existed but once I learned of it, I had to try it. I mean, as a carnivore isn't it my duty to eat as many animals as possible? From my memory, they have buffalo, reindeer, kangaroo, llama, wild boar, bear, lamb, elk, kobe beef, alligator, deer, antelope, camel, etc. Alligator? Camel? Kangaroo? Oh my.
And they have tots and back porch and a nice owner who seemed overly apologetic about his more-than-fair prices.Listed in: Seattle Burgers
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Review from Stuart A.
Cary, NC
Something atavistic, a welling up of my primal barbarian hunter id pulsed through my body as I placed my order for a camel burger and a Moose Drool Ale. Pasty white and soft, cut off from my savage ancestors as I am, I like to imagine this camel to be the very one pummeled into unconsciousness by the Conan / Schwarzenegger gestalt that has haunted my dreams since childhood. But not in a gay way.
The menu in this unassuming dive bar features burgers made from the following beasts: alligator, antelope, buffalo, camel, caribou, elk, Kobe beef, lamb, kangaroo, llama, ostrich, reindeer, venison, wild boar, and yak. Damn. Now I regret not ordering yak. But camel: fuck, yeah. Maybe I was a blue-clad Tuareg raider in a former life, staring hungrily at the Sahara.
Oh man. They also have poutine. We are so fucking getting poutine.
I think I love this place. OH: and the guy who runs the place looks like a Captain Kangaroo who has seen a lot of life. I trust him innately with my exotic meats.
OK: post dinner. Originally, I was gonna give this place four stars, but the service and friendliness of the owner kicked things up a notch. *BAM* spice weasel. I am full, satiated, and carnally inclined to take a woman-friend. One caveat: camel meat tastes kinda like hamburger. But WHAT THE FUCK EVER. I have ingested camel, taking its power into me. Tonight I dream of the wind-scarred desert as veiled houris soothe my slumbers. -
Review from Jessie R.
1/22/2008
There is a very depressing time of year when most bars start running out of good seasonal winter ales. Usually the first to go? Jolly Rogers. It also happens that my birthday falls during this depressing time of year, so I thought for sure that drinks with friends the other night would be sad and Jolly Rogers free.
Enter Ed's Kort-Haus to save the day. I think we finished off their supply, but it couldn't have gone to a more deserving or appreciative crowd.
The new bartender was a sweetheart, and helped to make my birthday celebration exactly what I wanted it to be: Good friends, Good beer, and a crowd of guys in the corner who had been playing Buck Hunter for 4 hours straight.Listed in: Places that make me Homesick…
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Review from Sean T.
6/5/2007
I've driven (and walked) past this place quite a few times and have never paid much attention to it. But when Ian K. suggested a happy hour here and mentioned that they serve various exotic meats, I figured it was worth a try. Now that I've tried it, the only thing I can say is that it's worth a try for the exotic meat burgers, but nothing else.
The place seems a little dilapidated inside (and out), but not in a cool, "we designed it to look like this" way. More like a "we haven't lifted a finger or spent a dime on this place in decades" way. They had a decent selection of beer, but based on my bill, it was apparently very pricey. As for the exotic burgers, I had a double reindeer burger (Rudolph and Donner), and it was pretty damn good. Thanks to Denice M., Charlie D. and Ron M., I tried many others - ostrich (good), kangaroo (not bad), wild boar (good), and camel (not so good). I would definitely go back for the burgers alone. I just wouldn't hang out here for any other reason. -
Review from steve c.
Denver, CO
9/9/2007
T o sum it up in two words, an experience. From start to finish, the Kort-Haus was, well, different.
Upon entering, an obligatory check of the bathroom was in order. The verdict? Not suitable to "do business" in. As you open the door of the men's restroom, it's realized there isn't a door on the stall, which leaves the potential 'squatter' there to squat in front of whoever walks in the bathroom, and maybe the bar patrons as well.
After ordering a couple of beers (they do have a large selection on tap), I inquired about ordering food. Ed (owner) directed me toward the tables, which housed the menus, of the take out variety--paper and copied a few more than a few times. In a "regular" place, you're probably asked "what'll you have?" after inquiring about the food and menus. Not at the Kort-Haus, however. At the Kort-Haus, things are done a little differently.
Instead of being waited on, Ed proceeded to tell the bar that every month he is delivered magazines in black plastic. Of course being the congenial (and awfully giddy...maybe hitting the sauce in back?) bar host, how could I NOT have predicted that Ed would then pass these Playboys out to the whole bar? How could I NOT have predicted that Ed would then tell a story about how the co-star of Disney's "High School Musical" had taken nude photos of herself, that could be found on the internet?
It finally came time to order, and not a moment too soon. Who could tell what else was going to happen in this place! The order: one reindeer burger and one camel burger. The reindeer was ok-cooked well enough, and slightly gamy tastin. The camel, however, was ridiculously gamy, and left one of us yearning for a toilet (but not THEIR toilet).
The pros to this place? A wide selection of exotic meats (reindeer, caribou, boar, kangaroo, camel, etc.), interesting stories to tell on Yelp, and.........that's it. the cons? Very pricey ($38 for two burgers and two beers), and the atmosphere leaves much to be desired (both physically-and the patrons and employees). I recommend this restaurant to: brave souls who want to be able to say "yep, I visited the Kort-Haus!!" Oh, P.S. if you really think they use separate grills for veggie and non-veggie.....heh heh heh!!!!!!!! -
Review from Kiki M.
4/13/2010
Ed's Kort Haus! Where have you been all my life?! My excitement and admiration for this place is well warranted. A hole in the wall bar offering great beer and exotic meat burgers, what more can you ask for?
I stumbled on this place because I was meeting my friend who lives in Phinney Ridge and needed a bar to meet up. I looked at bars on Yelp and found Ed's and was intrigued by the many reviews claiming this was a dive a head of the other dives. How could I not check this place out?
On Saturday night Ed's was not the most happening place but I like unpacked bars. To warn you it is a little smelly, looks like its been around since the dawn of man, and the furniture has probably been around since the dinosaurs roamed. I sat on a booth that was held together by duct tape.
There are plenty of beers on tap. They have Moose Drool which adds to their cool factor. Ed was there that night and took our drink order. My friend wasn't sure what she wanted and Ed asked her if she liked light, dark, or hoppy beers and based on her answer (she likes dark) he suggested a brew. I first ordered a rum and coke which was nice and strong. I mean, at a bar like this it would be sacrilege for the bartender to have a light pour.
At the table were menus and Ed's offers typical greasy pub food but the icing on the cake is their exotic hamburgers section. Any animal you want to eat, you can eat it in hamburger form here. Their selection ranges from lamb to alligator to ostrich to buffalo. You get the idea.
I can not fail to mention that the other bartender there was knocked up. You can't get that kind of service from a pregnant lady any where else but a bar like Ed's Kort Haus.
This bar has a new found place in my heart. If you are prissy it would be best to skip this bar but if you don't care and just want an easygoing place to have a beer and an exotic hamburger this is the place to go. -
Review from Rachel F.
San Francisco, CA
2/17/2008
Although I supposedly visited Seattle for the weekend, I believe when I walked through the front doors of the Kort-Haus Tavern, I slipped through the time and space continuum, and ended up in Newark, New Jersey circa 1992.
It was a sad and creepy place. And it was WAY too bright in there. Nobody looks good in that light. I saw (way too clearly) some really frightening displays of PDA that scarred me. If this place had a little more irony, I think I'd get it.
Don't take yourself so seriously and turn down the lights and maybe Kort-Haus, you will gain a little charm. But at this point, you're just meh. -
Review from Ian S.
6/4/2007
I haven't seen this many animals eaten since the HBO Furry Cathouse Orgy documentary special.
The burgers and fries are good. They have beer. The atmosphere is dark kind of like a cave. A cave where you might drag the things you have killed with your flinstsone's club to cook them over a campfire for you and the cavewoman you have sweet talked into coming back with you by tapping her head with that same club into a light loving concussion.
Ah the heady days of natural selection. How far we have fallen into the dark ages of civilization, running water and sanitation, and good posture.
Fortunately there are places like this where you can growl as you sink your canines into the juicy pulverized flesh of lesser predators and prey that didn't run quite fast enough. GRRRAAAWWWLLLMMMMPHMMM! TASTY!
.
.
.
* note: I'm kidding about the HBO documentary. If they actually have one, I don't know about it. -
Review from Christine S.
Seattle, WA
1/2/2008
Big Buck Hunter? Check.
Exotic meat burgers? Check.
A plethora of potato options (tots, fries, waffle cut fries, etc.)? Check, check and check.
A touch screen game tv with adult "Find the errors in this picture" game? Check.
Yes it's dirty, it's a dive bar, man! Yes you will reek when you leave. (My husband once came home smelling like the yak burger he'd had, which made me want to, well. Yack.) But it's a totally mellow not pretentious place to have beer and/or watch a game, and in Ballard/Greenwood now a days that's sayin' a lot.
The best thing about it, and why it gets four stars instead of three - they have a multitude of vegetarian meat options. Burgers, chicken burgers, chicken nuggets, corndogs - all of the vegetarian variety. Thank you Ed!! I know it seems like a scary place to eat at first, but I've always been very happy with my food there. Also he has an amazing number of beers on tap, and they vary - love love love.
Besides, I hear he just upgraded to the new Big Buck Hunter...PRO. Word. -
Review from Mike T.
Seattle, WA
11/20/2008
Style points for having exotic animal burgers.
If you love divey bars, a good mix of folks, burgers and beer, this is the place. Do not, I repeat do not, expect gourmet dining. Gastro-pu it is not, but if you are looking for an above average burger selection (ostrich is always good) and a beer, this place does the trick.
Do expect a jukebox, pool tables, less than sanitary bathrooms, and an array of exotic meats thrown in between a bun and some condiments. A little on the pricier side (avg 7-10 bucks), but c'mon, you're eating alligator!Listed in: Burger and a Beer
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Review from Geoffrey R.
Seattle, WA
8/26/2007
Last night I went to the Kort-Haus with some friends. We were thinking about the Tin-Hat (very close to my house, and my local watering hole of choice...) but decided to hit this place up, because...well I don't remeber why.
This place is a pretty typical dive bar. Greasy food, dart-boards, pull-tabs, juke-box, slightly surely bartender.
With one exception.
They serve, what a novice would call, exotic meats.
We're talking buffalo, deer, ostrich... I was hoping for some gueyduck ,
but alas, I was denied.
I will say, the night we went, our service was horrid. I ordered a corndog. I came to my table frozen in the middle. I sent it back, It returned in the same icey corpse it had apparently been doomed to for all eternity. They waitress also brought our entire table of patroons the wrong order. We ate some of it anyway.
It's also a little bright in there for my standards, and you can find a jukebox with much better selection elsewhere... trust me.
This place will do in a pinch, but if you can get to the Tin Hat, or even the People's pub.... go there. -
Review from Diana H.
Seattle, WA
6/22/2007
$9 for a pitcher of frothy Rainier - the glasses were warm. Now that that's out of the way...
I have to agree that this isn't the cheapest bar in the neighborhood, but it does have exotic appeal. I ate my first kangaroo burger and it was very lean and tasty. My bf had the reindeer burger - the texture was much more like an angus burger, but it smelled funny (go figure). The tater tots are standard fare, and the spicy fries (waffle) are nothing to write home about. The portions look small, but we were both satisfied after a burger, fries, and two pitchers. They had a new bartender (self-admitted) who was very friendly and welcoming (A+ for that).
I recommend sitting out on the back patio on warm days. If you sit far from the door, up against the rail - you can see Green Lake down the block with the Cascade's behind. Very cool.
Would I go again? Definitely. Will I go on a night other than their Sunday/Tuesday special burger night where you can buy one, get one half off? Probably not. -
Review from Adam S.
Seattle, WA
10/31/2007
GROSS.
oh man, i had to take a shower when I left this place. So encrusted with filth I can't believe the health department doesn't say something. I didn't eat, but that is because of the dirt in the bar, I can only imagine if it is that dirty where people can see, what about where people can't see. yuck.
We sat at the bar, which was covered in filthy duct-tape. Yeah you heard right, like the whole thing is duct-tape.
Will somebody please buy this cool old place that has potential and gut it.
Make sure you get your shots before entering. -
Review from Nick M.
WA
2/17/2007
Aside from all the exotic burgers people are talking about they also serve a variety of vegetarian choices you don't see at most dives like veggie "chiken" nuggets on a bed of fries, which I love to wolf down with a couple pints of strong ale. Speaking of ale they have something like 20 beers on tap including a variety of local breweries.
I give 5 stars not only for the nice beer selection and the veggie options, but also because the jukebox is cool. I was able to play the metal band Death on it. That is a rarity!! -
Review from Silvia A.
Seattle, WA
12/28/2006
I'm not in Greenwood very much since I live on Capitol Hill and don't have a car. However, I would make the trip out to Greenwood just to go to Kort-Haus.
It's a dive bar seedy enough to make you feel like an authentic working man, but not so seedy that a young woman can't go in and hang out unattended. Wild meat burgers (crocodile, ostrich, bear, moose, and more) are the cherry on the sundae. And while they don't have liquor, they do have some delicious ciders so that even a non-beer-drinker like me can kick back and enjoy a glass of something fizzy. -
Review from James R.
Seattle, WA
2/21/2007
Eff this place
This place is a dive in the not-cool sense of the word. Sure, it's a novelty because they serve moose, but it's so gross in there. It's the kind of place where you don't want to touch the tables, or if you dropped a dollar on the floor you'd want to take some vitamin C before you pick it up. The rug is so skanky, it's disgusting! They haven't recovered from the era before the smoking law set in, so it smells like a casino lounge on the ugly side of Vegas.
The staff is really rude, too. Like, crazy rude, like the people are either crazy themselves, or they're used to dealing with drifters constantly. My last time there, which was a tongue-in-cheek gathering at the dingiest bar the host could muster, they asked for a credit card from each of the dozen well-dressed folks because of some deep fear of someone dining and dashing.
Their food is self-explanatory. They have bar food, and stock a bunch of weird animal meats. Whatever, if you're vegetarian, eat before you go there.
The other thing that stinks is their policy about calling the liquor board on their neighbors. I won't elaborate, but they tried to shut down a new restaurant on the same street, citing idiotic offenses that even the police acknowledged as harrassment, after identifying the source of the complaints.
They don't get only one star because it is good if you only have $5 but want 2 beers.
Last word: This place eats it. If you're hungry for a turtle-burger, try your luck, but any biological sensitivities to any substance will be enflamed here. Cheap beer, but the paranoid service and disgusting interior make this place a not-funny joke. If you do go, walk in a puddle on the ride home so you don't drag that funk into your car/house. -
Review from b b.
Austin, TX
11/10/2006
Happy to have watched half a ball game here
and more than half a pitcher disappear.
Specials include drinks and food. The food is more
than just good burgers. Many beers on tap.
Darts, pinball, jukebox, pool - tv's
Also, free pool Sunday's and one free table mondays.
Sort of a comfy old pair of boots joint.
One awesome spicy buffalo burger with swiss. Figures as its near the spicy buffalo range.
Cool staff.
Me like. -
Review from E F.
Seattle, WA
11/29/2010
Been meaning to try this place so we could expand the range of meats we've tasted. Interesting selection, though they should cook their burgers just enough, not well done. Game meats tend to be pretty lean, so if you cook them to death, there's very little fat to keep them juicy and flavorful.
Ordered the camel, which was decent. Hubby had the elk/bear, which he said was sort of bland. I thought it was alright. I'd like to try the caribou and antelope next time. We also got the poutine, which are shoestring fries with gravy and topped with cheese curds. The gravy was a bit too salty and overabundant, drowning the fries.
Yes, it's a very small dive bar, but it's cozy, and not scary. Think small-town local sports bar. Not sure I'd make a special trip next time, but if we're in the area, we'd stop again. -
Review from Trevor R.
Austin, TX
11/27/2007
Sure it's a little divey, a little dingy, but the beer glasses are clean and that's what matters. After all, the place is called Ed's Kort Haus (i.e. not German, just purposefully misspelled), so you have fair warning.
The selection of draft beers here is pretty extensive (~20) and mostly local. They're often served with a smile by Ed himself, and they won't set you back like those pricey Belltown alcohol boutiques.
If you're like me and always appreciate a good dive, you've already been here or are now planning your visit. If not, I'd at least recommend stopping by for a beer next time you feel like slumming or doing a Phinney/Greenwood pub crawl.Listed in: Favorite Bars - Seattle
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Review from Erin J.
Seattle, WA
9/10/2009
Ahh, Kort Haus what happened? You use to be cool...
I use to love this little dive bar but after my experience there a few weeks back you won't catch me there again! This is the only place that's ever served me obviously moldy food. Yuck!
I took two friends there who'd never been before. The bar was being staffed by a woman who was clearly more interested in her personal cell phone call than in helping us.
When our food arrived I was in for an unpleasant surprise... My taco was topped with a mix of shredded orange and white cheeses that was sporting its own topping of blue fuzz!
I went up to the bar again and got the woman away from her cell phone long enough to point out the moldy cheese. She waved off my concern, explaining there was feta in the cheese mix. I must have given her a look akin to what I was thinking ("Feta's not blue!"); because she then said "Well cheese is made of mold anyway, so if it's molding there's nothing wrong with that." She then went back into the kitchen. I didn't eat my moldy taco, but I was still charged for it.
I recommend this place only if you want bad service and don't mind running the risk of spoiled food! -
Review from Anna P.
11/18/2009
I'm having a hard time finding where to begin with this place, there is just so much going on here. I had heard about it for so long, both from Yelp and from friends, that my expectations bordered on the bizarre. When a friend decided to celebrate his birthday here, I was expecting to find myself sitting on a spit-soaked bar stool with a group of Hell's Angels staring me down as I ate an animal that someone had just maimed at the nearby zoo.
In reality, the Kort Haus isn't as frighteningly gross as some have led me to believe. No, it's not a fine dining establishment, but it's more spacious and well-lit than you'd think, the tables are clean, and there are plenty of games (pool, darts, arcade). There are also 20+ beers on tap, and we're not talking 20 varieties of PBR.
Now, I could whine about the slow service, but that was solely because we happened to come in on an off-night with one person running the entire place. And did I mention there were 12 of us?
Only half of our party ended up ordering food, because the one guy could only make burgers in batches of four, all the while having to bartend, too. I know I would've cried had I been in this position, but the guy stayed chill and friendly despite all the stress. The second round of burgers actually didn't take that long, and my elk burger (and tots!!) more than quelled my appetite in the end.
I would be more than willing to come back and give this place another try, provided I'm ravenously hungry again.Listed in: GREENWOOD!
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Review from May N.
Seattle, WA
11/18/2007
Not a bad place to get a beer... if you really, really need one. I'm hoping the alcohol in my cup killed whatever wasn't cleaned off of it.
The bar staff was attentive to my party of 5 and made sure we were happy with the level of beer left in our pitcher. So that was good.
There are pool tables and arcade style games and food... none of which I tried so I can't comment on those. For bar atmosphere, however, this place seems like a good place to watch a game or get a beer with good friends. Just wipe down your cup before using it if you get a chance.
